The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday set November 13 for a ruling on whether to launch a judicial review into a claim that Thaksin Shinawatra committed perjury before he became prime minister.

The lawsuit is part of the criminal and civil wrangles stemming from a botched deal to provide a cable-television service in the late 1980s. The deal was hatched by Thaksin, before he entered politics, and American businessman William Monson.

In his criminal litigation for perjury, Monson alleges that Thaksin testified as a prosecution witness and gave false statements in November 1996 and January 1997 in a civil case for breach of contract on the delivery of broadcasting equipment.

Monson's lawyer Pramet Sutabutr expressed confidence that his client had a strong case to win a conviction for perjury.

On Monday, Monson suffered a setback when the Criminal Court dismissed another perjury case on grounds of the expiry of statutory limitations.

In a separate court battle for perjury, the court has scheduled a series of five hearings starting on Monday, before ruling whether the case merits judicial review.

This case is based on a 1989 criminal case in which Thaksin accused Monson of embezzlement.

The American businessman won the three-tier judicial review before countersuing Thaksin.